The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Best of: Clint Smith III on confronting the legacy of slavery

Dec 30, 2021

In this discussion, Clint Smith III, a Staff writer at The Atlantic and author of "How the Word Is Passed," unpacks the legacy of slavery through his research. He dives into the significance of historical sites, reflecting on their roles in shaping public memory. Smith also critiques the complexities in America’s narratives involving figures like Thomas Jefferson. He shares personal insights from parenthood, exploring how it reshapes understanding of historical injustices. Lastly, he highlights the vital contributions of Black voices in education and journalism.

01:01:42

Episode guests

Clint Smith III

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Confronting the Legacy of Slavery

24min

Unveiling New York's Hidden Legacy of Slavery

6min

Reflections on Parenthood and Slavery

17min

Confronting the Truth: America's Narrative and Critical Race Theory

2min

Navigating the Contradictions of Juneteenth and Education on Slavery

4min

Empowering Black Voices in Education and Journalism

6min

Vox's Jamil Smith talks with author Clint Smith III about his book How the Word Is Passed, which documents the writer's personal journey visiting sites that embody the legacy of American slavery. They discuss the power of this re-confrontation, how to bridge the gaps in education and awareness of America's past, and the experience of Black writers in a nation that is "a web of contradictions."

Host: Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith), Senior Correspondent, Vox

Guest: Clint Smith III (@ClintSmithIII), Staff writer, The Atlantic

References:

How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith (Little, Brown; 2021)
"Why Confederate Lies Live On" by Clint Smith (The Atlantic; May 10)
"The lost neighborhood under New York's Central Park" by Ranjani Chakraborty (Vox; Jan. 20, 2020)
"The Statue of Liberty was created to celebrate freed slaves, not immigrants, its new museum recounts" by Gillian Brockell (Washington Post; May 23, 2019)
"No, the Civil War didn't erase slavery's harm" by W. Caleb McDaniel (Houston Chronicle; July 12, 2019)
Nikole Hannah-Jones Issues Statement on Decision to Decline Tenure Offer at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and to Accept Knight Chair Appointment at Howard University (NAACP Legal Defense Fund; July 6)
Crash Course: Black American History, hosted by Clint Smith

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Vox Audio Fellow: Victoria Dominguez
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall

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